[Coral-List] 2013 coral spawning report - Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary - NW Gulf of Mexico

[Emma Hickerson]

Observers from Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, University of Texas, and Oregon State University report the following mass coral spawning observations.  Numbers reported are from just one dive made each night by three or four primary observers/teams in limited area on the reef for a limited time at the East Flower Garden Bank.  Water temperature 29C. Water depth of observations approximately 19m.

August 27, 2013
Sunset 1946 local

2120-2200
Orbicella (formerly Montastraea)  franksi (approx. 60 colonies) 

2120-2140
Montastraea cavernosa male (3 colonies)
Montastraea cavernosa female (6 colonies)

August 28, 2013
Sunset 1945 local

2115-2200
Diploria strigosa (25 colonies)

2115-2200
O. franksi (40 colonies)

2200 
O. faveolata (1 colony)

Observers diving after 11pm did not see any spawning on either night.

FGBNMS
Emma Hickerson
Marissa Nuttall
G.P. Schmahl

UT
Misha Matz
Marie Strader
Carly Kenkel
Sarah Davies

OSU
Eli Meyer
Sarah Guermind

Emma L. Hickerson
Research Coordinator
Flower Garden Banks NMS
4700 Ave U, Bldg 216
Galveston, TX 77551
409-621-5151, ext. 111
Emma.hickerson at noaa.gov